Psalm 8 Story behind the Psalm
Back to Psalm 8
Overview
Background Ideas
- The common practice of kings and lords is to accrue glory for themselves, not to bestow it upon others.
- YHWH gave dominion to (i.e., bestowed glory on) the sun, moon, and stars (Gen. 1:16-18; Ps 136:8-9), which are associated with heavenly beings (cf. Job 38:7; Rev. 1:20; cf. COS I:181).
- YHWH created humans as his image and gave them universal dominion (cf. Gen. 1:26ff).
- YHWH promised to give David's dynasty universal dominion (cf. Pss 2; 72; 89; 110).
- "Portrayal of man in his paradisal splendour was especially linked in the ancient world with the royal office" (Eaton 1967:45).
- Wild animals are sometimes used to depict the enemies of God's people (e.g., Pss 7:3; 10:9; 17:12; 22:13, 17, 22; 80:14; cf. Daniel 6-7).
Background Situation
Expanded Paraphrase
(For more information, click "Expanded Paraphrase Legend" below.)
| Expanded paraphrase legend | |
|---|---|
| Close but Clear (CBC) translation | The CBC, our close but clear translation of the Hebrew, is represented in bold text. |
| Assumptions | Assumptions which provide background information, presuppositions, entailments, and inferences are represented in italics. |
v.1
For the director, on the gittith, a psalm by David (to whose offspring YHWH promised to give universal dominion).
v.2
YHWH, our lord, (you who are the great king over all creation and over your people, Israel,) how majestic is your name in all the earth,
you whose (royal) glory is bestowed on the heavens (, on the sun, moon, and stars and other heavenly beings,) (on whom you have conferred some of your royal authority).
v.3
(YHWH, you are a king,) (whose people are under attack by an enemy,) (and kings build fortresses and fortifications to repel enemy attacks.) (And so,) You have founded a fortress (to protect your people and repel the enemy.) (This fortress is not built on the size of your people's army or on the eloquence of their orators, but) from the (cries that come out of the) mouths of nursing children (who, as the weakest and most vulnerable of the human race,) (represent your people as dependent on you for protection.) (Through their humble cries for help, you have founded a fortress) on account of your adversaries, in order to put an end to a vengeful enemy.
v.4
When I (look up at the night-time sky and) see your heavens, that which your fingers made, the moon and stars which you have established, (I am awestruck by the glory and power) (which you have bestowed on the heavenly realm [v. 2b]) (and I think)
v.5
"What is mankind that you should consider them, or a human being, that you should be mindful of him?" (Whereas the heavens and the creatures in them are glorious and powerful,) (humans are weak and helpless.) (Why should you pay attention to us?)
v.6
And (yet you created humans as your image,) (and, in so doing,) you caused him to lack being a heavenly being (who live in the heavens at which I am gazing) (and on whom you have conferred glory [v. 2]) by (only) a little, and (whereas kings normally choose powerful and impressive representatives for themselves,) (you have chosen weak and unimpressive humanity), and you crowned him (like a king) with (royal) glory and majesty (and so gave him the right to rule over your creation).
v.7
You caused him to rule that which your hands made (when you blessed him and told him to subdue the earth and rule over all of its creatures). (Just as a conqueror's enemies are placed under his feet, so) You placed everything under his feet.
v.8
(You gave him dominion over) (domestic animals such as) Sheep and goats and cattle – all of them, and (not just domestic animals, but) even wild animals,
v.9
(and not just land animals, but also) birds in the sky and fish in the sea, that which traverses the paths of the sea.
(As I, David, reflect on the universal dominion which you gave to humanity, I think about the universal dominion which you promised to my dynasty.) (You chose me, a lowly human, the least in my family, to rule over your people, Israel.) (My dynasty will last forever,) (and my descendant will reign until all his enemies are put under his feet.)
v.10
YHWH, our lord, (you are not like most lords) (who accrue glory to themselves and abuse their subjects.) (Instead, you share your glory with your subjects,) (and you demonstrate your power in weakness.) how majestic is your name in all the earth.
Story Triangles
v.2
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v.3
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vv.4-9
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